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I settled into the tiny sofa. The soft squidgyness comforting like a hug. I toed off one shoe and then the other and just closed my eyes.
The gentle click of a kettle being put on to boil followed by the sound of two mugs being placed on the counter reached my ears.
The more I concentrated the more I could hear: waves breaking against the shore, voices of children yelling in delight and the bark of a dog or two, probably chasing the waves as the tide rolled back out to sea.
We lived far from the sea now, but some sounds just always meant home and its unhurried rhythm was calming after a mildly stressful day.
“Yorkshire Gold, or do you want one of those fancy M&S teabags that your mum got us?”
I smiled and opened my eyes at a sound that was a more recent addition to the playlist of my life.
“Love, I think those are leaf teas. It'll have to be Yorkshire Gold for now until we get home.”
I got up and went to the little kitchenette. There he was: tall, dark and oh so handsome, leaning against the counter whilst the kettle boiled. And all mine.
James opened his arms and I headed straight for them, needing to be wrapped in his loving embrace. I tilted my head up for a kiss and he obliged. Then followed it up by saying:
“You OK, Oliver? It was a lot today.”
I pondered his words.
“Yeah. It was just a lot doing your Mum's for lunch and then my family for dinner. No dashing through the snow or jingling all the way back here to the Airbnb for me. I am so stuffed.”
“We have enough leftovers to keep us going until New Year, that's for sure! Good job I like veggie soup.”
“Urgh. I don't know what we will do with the dry slices that were Dad's roast turkey. I don't know why he and mum insist on the full works. It's just so much. No wonder Charlie and Nick went on a Christmas cruise this year now that they are both earning a decent amount.”
I tried not to feel jealous. But at least James had had the bright idea of getting an ocean view Airbnb, just far enough away from both of our families that it felt like we were having our own little holiday as well as meeting all of the family obligations.
James must have been able to feel the tension in my body as he gave me a big squeeze.
“I saw this TikTok where someone used Thanksgiving leftovers and made tacos. Same kind of food as our double Christmas dinners. What do you think?”
“Tacos?” I perked up a little.
“Uh huh. A thin spread of stuffing, meat, some of the veggies shredded up. Loaded on to a warm tortilla. And gravy to dip them in. Plenty of gravy!”
Despite how full I was feeling I had to swallow the saliva that this description brought forth.
“That actually sounds OK.”
I tilted my head up for another kiss.
“If you are still too stuffed to jingle some bells, how about I show you how much fun I have riding?”
I snort.
“Nap first to let everything go down and then riding later?” I compromise. Honestly the bed here is so much more comfy than ours. Maybe I need to suggest to James that next year we look at getting a decent mattress.
“Tea, then nap, then the bells will be a-ringing!” James agrees and laughs and starts shooing me back towards the sofa.
“Sit down and I'll bring the tea through.”
The restorative power of tea and the arms of a good man cannot be understated enough.
Maybe I won't even need that nap before we jingle all the way to bed.